SpaceX to Attempt Second Rocket Landing This Evening. What You Need to Know

UPDATE: Tonight’s launch scrubbed due to weather. SpaceX will try again Tuesday at 6:05 PM EST.

SpaceX’s first landing didn’t quite go according to plan. The first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket ran out of hydraulic fluid right before landing.

Yesterday, SpaceX was set to try again during the launch of the DSCOVR satellite. But, a last minute problem with Air Force’s Eastern Range radar scrubbed the launch. The next attempt is scheduled for this evening at 6:07 pm EST. NASA TV will begin live coverage at 5 pm EST.

What You Need to Know

This evening’s launch brings new challenges to SpaceX. The launch of the DSCOVR satellite marks SpaceX’s first deep space mission.

The solar wind measurements are vital and will give us 15-60 minutes lead time on geomagnetic storm warnings. In some extreme cases, these geomagnetic storms can cause disruption to power grids and communications. An intense geomagnetic storm caused power outages in Quebec in 1989.

I’ll update this post later today once we know if SpaceX was successful with its rocket landing.